The nation continues to mourn the sudden passing of Honourable Joyce Chitsulo, the Deputy Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture and Member of Parliament for Mwanza West, who collapsed and died in Lilongwe on Friday morning.
Government authorities have since confirmed that funeral arrangements are being handled at the highest level, with the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), the Ministry of Local Government, Parliament, and various local councils working in close coordination to ensure that Honourable Chitsulo receives a dignified state-supported send-off.
The late Deputy Minister’s remains are currently resting at Goodwill Funeral Services in Lilongwe, near Toyota Malawi. A post-mortem examination is scheduled to be conducted on Saturday morning between 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. After the procedure, the body will remain at the funeral home until Sunday morning.
On Sunday, the remains will be transported to her home in Area 25 Dzenza, Lilongwe, where a vigil is already being observed by family and mourners. Funeral prayers will be conducted at the residence in the morning, after which the body will depart for her home village in Thambani, Mwanza District.
Burial is scheduled for Monday, where final rites will be conducted.
In recognition of her service to the nation, President Lazarus Chakwera has appointed an Inter-Ministerial Committee to oversee the funeral proceedings. The Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Dr. Gomani Chindebvu, has been designated as the immediate advisor to the funeral programme committee.
The Lilongwe City Council has provided logistical support, including tents and chairs for mourners gathering at the Area 25 residence. Similarly, the Mwanza District Council is making arrangements at the Thambani burial site to accommodate the anticipated attendance.
The Office of the President and Cabinet has also begun providing food assistance to mourners, a gesture that started on Friday evening. The Mwanza District Council has been assigned to coordinate the receipt of formal condolences and will offer guidance to members of the public and institutions wishing to send messages of sympathy.
Government is encouraging all councils, government ministries, and members of the public to attend the burial and join in honouring the life and service of the late Deputy Minister.
The death of Honourable Joyce Chitsulo, a devoted public servant and respected legislator, is a profound loss for the country. As funeral preparations continue, Malawians from all walks of life are urged to come together in unity to bid farewell to one of the nation’s most committed leaders.
